Page 28 of A Governess' Forbidden Flame
My dearest Penelope,
Although we are far apart, know that my thoughts are never too far away from you, in hope that you are in good health and high spirits. Life here at Ravenscroft Manor has unfolded in ways I could not have foreseen. I thought I would find shelter here, but it would seem that I have found so much more.
The manor itself is a place of enchantment, and the rumors truly do not do it justice. It is a place of mystery, intrigue, secrets, and treasures. I’m sure that you would love it as much as I do. The library, a sanctuary of knowledge, hasbecome a refuge for my thoughts. The earl’s collection is beyond impressive. My little charge, Anna, is a delight, and I enjoy every moment spent with her. In fact, I think she teaches me as much as I teach her. We sense what the other needs, and we provide for each other.
With that said, events have transpired that I long to share with you in person, for the written word might not do justice to the subtleties of these encounters. The earl and I have gotten close, much closer than we ought to be, I’m afraid, and I honestly do not know if I should continue along this path. It seems too dangerous to even ponder, yet I can barely think about anything else. How I long to have you by my side and share all of this with you in person. I know you would have the advice I need.
Know that all is well, and there is a certain excitement in the air, a promise of new beginnings. I eagerly anticipate our reunion, my dearest sister, and hope to reveal the unfolding chapters of this unexpected story in more detail when we are together once more.
Until then, may love and warmth envelop you.
Yours faithfully,
Amelia
She wondered if she should write more, explain in more detail, but then she decided against it. What was transpiring between her and the earl was supposed to be a secret. Then again, there were already so many secrets in this place, and look where that had gotten them. Secrets only demanded more secrets and lies, and those were like chasms between loved ones.
She sighed, folding the letter, deciding to leave it as it was, with only hints of what was happening. There would be enough time for detailed stories later, hopefully. Now, she had somewhere to be, somewhere important.
She quickly glanced at herself in the looking glass, straightening an invisible wrinkle on her gown. She placed a loose curl behind her ear, then nodded in confirmation. She was ready…as ready as she would ever be.
Several minutes later, she found herself pacing about the library, running her fingers lightly over the spines of the books, each one a portal to another world. But she wanted to remain in this one, where Sebastian would arrive any moment and their forbidden tryst would continue.
As she admired the collection, her mind wandered to Sebastian. The library was his sanctuary, a place where the weight of history mingled with the present. She wondered what tales thewalls could tell, what secrets they held about the enigmatic earl. Would their book have another chapter written this very evening? And what would it have to say? She trembled at the thought of his hands on her again, the same way as the previous night.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice his arrival until his deep voice resonated through the room. “Amelia,” he said, the sound drawing her attention like a magnetic force.
Turning to face him, she found herself captivated by the play of shadows on his face, the flickering candlelight revealing the contours of his features. There was a certain vulnerability in his gaze. There was no mischief, which she expected to see.
He approached her with a small, knowing smile. “Enjoying the company of my books, Miss Wycliffe?” he inquired. She loved the sound of his voice. It would awaken a sudden rush of goosebumps momentarily upon hearing her speak to her in such a manner.
“I prefer your company,” she dared to say, much to her own shock, as well as his.
She walked over to him, their eyes locked in a moment of intense connection. The air around them seemed to thicken with anticipation as she mustered the courage to be the first one to kiss him. Then, to her utter shock, he cupped her face, preventing her from doing so. Their lips were inches apart, yetthey were not kissing, which was what she wanted more than anything else.
His expression was serious, searching her eyes for certainty. She wondered if something had changed, if she had perhaps overstepped a boundary that she didn’t know about. A frightening thought occurred to her. Had he changed his mind? Her lip quivered as he spoke.
“Are you certain this is what you want, Amelia?”
She loved it when he called her by her name. Without hesitation, she whispered her response. “Yes.” There was nothing else that needed to be said. That one small word was more than enough.
A knowing smile played on Sebastian’s lips. She knew he wanted it as much as she did. Maybe even more? The thought titillated her, but she did not have much time to be entranced by mere thought, because the next moment, their lips collided.
This kiss was different than the ones before. It was much too potent to be controlled, to be sustained. The desire burning between them had been enhanced by the previous events, and she felt the need to be less tentative. Her teeth gripped at his lower lip, tugging at it gently. He groaned against her. She relished the sound.
As if on cue, he kissed her harder as their bodies moved in unison backward, toward the nearest bookshelf. There was nomore restraint. She had given him her consent, which was what he seemed to have needed. Although she appreciated it, she would have rather had him barge in and claim her.
She whimpered, clutching at him harder, demanding more of him. She wanted all of him, all he had to give. The repercussions were irrelevant. She was already lost, her heart already his. There was no point fighting it or denying it. All she could do was give in, give herself completely over to him.
His tongue slid into her mouth, and the naughtiest part of her mind thought what it would feel if he slid his tongue inside of her, tasting her where she never even dreamed of being tasted.
He brought her closer to himself, their bodies blending perfectly, almost as if they were made for each other. Her hair pins were falling out of her hair, one by one. But she didn’t care about that. A few moments later, her blonde curls cascaded down her back and he grabbed a fistful of it, making her arch her back, pointing her chin upward. He kissed down her neck, making her shiver with delight.
Her hands flew to embrace him, but marred by very little control, she accidentally tipped a marble bust on one of the shelves. The soft thud of the bust hitting the floor echoed through the room, breaking the spell that bound them. Sebastian, alerted by the noise, glanced toward the fallen sculpture, realization dawning in his eyes.
Together, they watched as the adjacent bookcase swung open, revealing a concealed passage. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and as she could see, so did his.
“Is this…” She gasped, unable to finish her question, their eyes focused on the same spot.
